Tempering device



April 5, 1932. 7 EV w, PlERcE 1,852,625

TEMPERING DEVICE Filed April 2, 1930 IN VEN TOR EARL W. P/ER CE.

BY 2 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 5, 1932 CFFICE EARL W. PIERCE, OF NEWCASTLE,INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO CHRYSLER CORPDRATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ACORPORATION OF MICHIGAN TEMPERING DEVICE Application filed April 2,1930. Serial N'o. 441,080.

tachably connecting a handle to the articles by which they may beconveniently transferred during the heat treatment; and to provide animproved shield for preventing the inner surface of a cluster gear fromcooling at the same rate as the outer surface thereof so as to obviatedistortion of the gear and the creation of internal stresses.

An illustrative embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings,

in which:

Fig. 1 is a Vertical section of a cluster gear embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section of a tempering bath showing a cluster gear protectedinternally from the quenching liquid and a handle by which the gear maybe manipulated.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section illustrating a further development of myinvention.

In the form shown, the cluster gear 1 has a central tubular passage 2 inwhich a metal sleeve 3 is inserted. The sleeve preferably consists of anickel and chromium alloy such as nichrome. The upper end 4 of the metalsleeve 3 projects beyond the corresponding end of the cluster gear 1 andis provided with. a pair of registering diametrically opposite apertures5 through which a pin 6 extends. The sleeve 3 has a loosely fittingengagement with the inner periphery of the cluster gear 1 and the pin 6is seated against the upper extremity 7 of the cluster gear so as toprevent downward movement of the sleeve 3 in the passage 2.

A handle 8 which has a loop 9 at its upper end and a lower, angularlyoffset portion 10 terminating in a forked extremity 11 substantiallynormal to the length of the handle 3, is provided for placing thecluster gear 1 in a quenching bath and removing the same therefrom. Theforked extremity 11 of the handle includes prongs 12 and 13 which arespaced sufficiently to embrace the hub part 14 of the cluster gear 1.

During the heat treating operation, the cluster gear and sleeve 3 areplaced in a fur nace and heated to a desired temperature. The handle 8is then inserted into the furnace and maneuvered until the forked end 11is engaged around a hub part 14 of a cluster gear. With the handle inthis position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the forked extremity 11 abutsthe face of one of the gears of the cluster which may then beconveniently removed from a heating atmosphere and transferred. to aquenching bath or tank in which oil 16 or other quenching liquid iscontained. The handle 8 extends above the level of the liquid in thebath and may be rested upon the side wall of the tank 15 as shown inFig. 2.

In the form shown in dig. 3, the cluster gear represented at 1 has atubular passage 2 in which a sleeve 3 is inserted. The lower end 4: ofthe metal sleeve 3 projects beyond the corresponding end of the clustergear 1 and is provided with a pin 6' which extends dia metrically acrossthe interior of the sleeve 3', the end portions of the pin 6 extendingbeyond the outer side of the sleeve 3 and engaging the lower end of thegear cluster.

Extending axially through the sleeve 3 is a handle 8 having a loop 9 atone end and an enlargement 10 at the other end having v inclined,converging side edges. Formed in the enlargement 10' 1s a notch 11 inwhich the pin 6 1s inserted.

The handle 8 can be detachably connected to the pin 6 by inserting itthrough the sleeve 3 and maneuvering it until the pin 6 becomes seatedin the notch 11.

When the heated cluster gear is submerged in the quenching liquid theouter periphery of the gear is directly exposed to the cooling action ofthe liquid and as a result the material of the gear which is in closeproximity to the outer periphery is cooled, contracted and hardenedrapidly. The sleeve 3 serves as a shield to prevent direct contact ofthe quenching liquid with the inner periphery of the cluster gear. Thiscauses the metal adjacent the inner periphery of the gear to cool andharden at a slower rate than the material at the outer portions of thegear.

In this manner, the outer periphery of the article is cooled, hardenedand contracted rapidly and the inner periphery thereof is not allowed tocool and contract excessively in advance of the intermediate part.Distortion, growth and the creation of internal stresses is obviated inthis way.

hen the temperature of the device has decreased substantially toatmospheric temperature, it may be conveniently removed from thequenching bath by the handle 8 which may then be disconnected from thecluster and employed in the treating of another article. The sleeve isthen removed from the cluster gear 1 and may be employed in anothergear.

Although but two specific embodiments of this invention have herein beenshown and described, it will be understood that various changesincluding the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention and it is not my invention tolimit its scope other than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shield for protecting the inner surface of hollow articles from aquenching bath comprising a tubular member having an outer peripheryconforming in shape with the contour of the interior of said hollowarticle extending substantially the entire length there of and adaptedto loosely fit within said hollow article, and means for preventing thepassage of said shield through said article in one direction.

2. A sleeve for protecting the inner surface of a tubular article from aquenching bath comprising a tubular member, and means extendingtransversely through one end of said member and seated against thead]acent end of said article, to prevent separation of said sleeve andarticle when the latter is lifted.

3. ,A shield for protecting the inner periphery of a cluster gear from aquenching liquid comprising a tubular member, a pin extendlngtransversely of said tubular member for preventing separation of saidsleeve and gear,

